Top five performances in 50-overs  World Cup finals

Every player and every team works ultimately for one single thing that is lifting the World Cup that comes once every four years. Every team does all kinds of changes to the squad and even to their coaching panel in order to find perfect mix to have a shot at the World Cup. Every single cricket player sweets it out in the nets and practices hard prepares himself/ herself waiting for an opportunity to win his or her team the World Cup, especially every player dreams to give away their best in the World Cup finals. Performing at the bigger stage like the World Cup and especially in a World Cup finals needs a lot of character, temperament with the ability to perform. Here are the top five performances of the World Cup finals.

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#5. Adam Gilchrist

The left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman from Australia who opens the batting for them in the limited overs scored a blistering 149(104) in 2007 World Cup finals. It was a rain-affected encounter and the match was reduced to 38 overs a side.

He just ran past Sri Lanka's bowling attack single-handedly and took his team to a massive total of 281 in 38 overs. The beauty about this knock was that every other batsman found it difficult to score runs quickly and freely but Gilchrist looked like he was batting on a completely different wicket altogether.

He smashed 8 sixes and 13 fours in his knock of 149(104). The reduction in the number of overs due to rain gave Gilchrist the free license to play his natural game and that worked. After Australia's Innings, the rain-interrupted again and Sri Lanka's innings was reduced to 36 overs and were set a target of 269 and eventually Sri Lanka came short by 53 runs handing Australia their 4th World Cup title.

Gilchrist finished his international limited overs career with 9619 runs at an average of 36 and he had a strike rate of 96.94 in his career.

#4.Sir Vivian Richards

Sir Viv Richards was known as the Master Blaster, he scored an unbeatable knock of 138 in 1979 World Cup finals against the host England. His 138 off 157 took his team to a massive total of 286 in 60 overs. In reply, England was bowled out for 194 in 51 overs. Sir Viv Richards not only contributed with the bat but also contributed with the ball too he bowled 10 overs just giving away 35 and went wicketless. Garner's fifer demolished England's batting lineup.

England started off slowly with each of their openers scoring half-centuries but their middle order was destroyed by the sharp and accurate bouncers by Joel Garner. Sir Viv Richards was awarded the man of the match of the finals. Sir Viv Richards is considered as one of the best batsmen across all formats ( ODI and Test).

He is a crowd favourite and entertains every one almost all the time. He is an aggressive batsman who had a strike rate of 90+ in ODI's which is something exceptional. With just a cap on and with less protection than what we have today, taking on the fast and speary bowler and succeeding most often than not requires a huge talent and fearlessness.

#3. Aravindha de Silva

Sri Lankan all-rounder Aravindha de Silva's all-round performance in the finals helped Sri Lanka lift their first World Cup. He came into bowl in a crucial time when Captain Mark Taylor and Ricky Pointing were well settled and were all set to score big and the Aussies were cruising at 137/1 in 27 overs. He took the wicket of Mark Tayor caught in the deep and then he also dismissed the well-set Ricky Pointing. Later in the innings, he came back to pick up the wicket of Healy. He ended up with figures of 3/42 in 9 overs.

Australia managed to set Sri Lanka a target of 242, no team has won a World Cup final chasing before this 1996 World Cup finals. Sri Lanka suffered an early set back with both their openers getting dismissed early. Sri Lanka was struggling at 2/23, in walked Aravindha de Silva, he along with Gurunisha put on 125 run partnership for the third wicket eventually, Gurunisha was dismissed for 65 by Reiffel.

Then walked in the captain Arjuna Ranatunga, he along with Aravindha de Silva sealed the game for Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 97 run partnership. Aranvindha de Silva ended up scoring a century. This will remain one of the best all-round performance in a World Cup finals.

#2. Wasim Akram

World Cup 1992 Finals was one of the closest finals in the history. Both teams were in the game all the time, it was like a see-saw when one team tries to get away the other team found their rhythm and kept in pace with their opposition. Pakistan started off slowly they reached their 100 only in the 31st over, they managed to set a target of 250 courtesy of some late flourish from Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram. Akram scored a very useful 33 off 18 and helped his side to get to a fighting total.

In the second innings, Wasim Akram was in the groove straight away taking the wicket of Ian Botham caught behind for a duck. England was in trouble at 69/4, then Allan Lamb partnered Nell Fairbrother they steadied the ship and piled a partnership of 69 off 79 deliveries. Imran Khan then threw the ball to Wasim Akram in the 34th over in search of a wicket, he didn't disappoint at all.

Wasim dismissed the well-set Lamb by a peach of a delivery. Wasim came round the wicket pitched the ball around the good length area, Lamb was struck in the crease tried to cover his stumps with no feet movement, the ball seemed to come back in but at the last moment it held its line and knocked the off stumps over. The very next ball he got Chris Lewis with a big inswinger that knocked his middle stump off. Those two were decisive blows and this lead Pakistan to their first World Cup title.

#1. Ricky Pointing:

The Australian captain delivered the goods for Australia in the 2003 World Cup finals against India. It was expected to be a good final as both teams had the capability to defeat each other on a given day, but Pointing had other ideas. He decided to bat India out of the game and that's exactly what he did. He scored an unbeaten 140* off 121 balls. He smashed 8 sixes in that innings of 140.

Australian's got a brilliant start with Gilchrist and Hayden both firing. Australia lost their first wicket for 105 in 14 over, in walked Ricky Pointing the start helped him to play his natural game. He came to the crease with a clear intent to take on the Indian bowlers. He did that in style. The Indian bowlers were wayward at times that made life easier for the Australian Batsmen.

He along with Martyn piled a 234 run third wicket partnership and took Australia to 359. Indian's in reply lost Tendulkar early with no batsmen other than Viru finding their groove India just managed 234 runs. Ricky Pointing & Co eventually got their hands onto their third World Cup title.

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